Trade Agreement with Mexico is a Good Step for NC
Today’s news that the White House has negotiated a trade deal with Mexico is a step in the right direction for North Carolina’s manufacturers and exporters. We’re encouraged to see this forward progress with Mexico and we’re hopeful that it signals good news for an agreement with Canada as well.
As you know, the NC Chamber has been outspoken in our support for both preserving and strengthening NAFTA. Nearly 400,000 NC jobs and more than $9 billion in revenue depend on trade with Canada and Mexico – it is abundantly clear that these relationships play a major role in our state’s economic health and prosperity.
This unilateral deal is not the same as a strengthened NAFTA – as of this moment, it’s not even a trilateral agreement between all three partners, which we would strongly prefer. As such, we’ll continue to dive into the details of the US-Mexico agreement and will be sure to share any implications for North Carolina business as we have them. Interestingly, POLITICO reports that U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer will notify Congress of a completed deal by Friday, which could indicate a forthcoming agreement with Canada. We’ll certainly keep our eyes out for that news as we continue to advocate for a strong relationship between all three of our countries.
Sincerely,
Gary J. Salamido
Vice President, Government Affairs
NC Chamber